408: Chapter 48 was a side note!

"Who wants us to go back? What is the specific matter?"

Qin Yan looked at the soldier below with a calm gaze and asked.

"In response to Your Excellency, it is an order personally issued by Great Grandmaster Xiao Shan. As for the specific details, this subordinate does not know; I am only following orders to deliver the message."

The soldier answered methodically, his expression open and honest.

Hearing that it was Xiao Shan who personally gave the order, the doubts in Qin Yan's heart lessened slightly.

After all, he had just been saved by the man last night, and he was Xiao Wangshu's biological grandfather. In terms of both emotion and logic, there seemed to be no reason for him to harm them.

However, he still did not relax completely.

"Alright, we understand. Please lead the way."

The two of them leapt down from the reef.

On the way following the soldier away from the position, Qin Yan secretly made up his mind: as long as this soldier leading the way showed the slightest sign of deviating from the main road or heading toward a remote area, he would turn around and leave without a word!

When he left, he would also have to forcibly drag this "important person," Xiao Wangshu, along.

With Xiao Shan's granddaughter by his side, the safety factor would always be at least a little bit higher, right?

Fortunately, there was nothing unusual about the journey this time.

The soldier led them along the most conventional route back to Zhenhai City.

They passed several checkpoints along the way, all of which they cleared smoothly.

Patrol teams passed by from time to time on both sides of the road, and the figures of patrolling soldiers on the distant city walls were also clearly visible.

Although the atmosphere was still solemn and killing, it was orderly, completely different from the lonely and eerie reef beach of last night.

Qin Yan's tense nerves finally began to slowly relax.

About half an hour later, led by the soldier, the two of them successfully passed through the pale blue light shield of Zhenhai City's North Gate.

They once again entered the interior of this war fortress.

The soldier led them through part of the barracks to a military building complex located in a relatively central area of the city, which occupied a large area and was clearly more heavily guarded.

They stopped in front of one of the largest dark gray tents, which had elite guards on duty at the entrance.

The soldier paused, and after reporting their arrival, signaled for the two to enter.

Qin Yan lifted the thick curtain and walked in together with Xiao Wangshu.

The inside of the tent was well-lit, and the furnishings were simple yet exuded majesty.

A huge sand table occupied the center, meticulously marking the terrain and troop deployments of the Eastern Theater's sea and land areas.

Beside the sand table, the three of them—Xiao Shan, Lin Shui, and Director Liu Mu—were impressively seated.

"Dean (Grandfather), Director Liu, Director Lin."

Qin Yan and Xiao Wangshu stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Qin Yan, Wangshu, you've come. Sit down."

Xiao Shan spoke, his voice steady.

After the two sat down, Lin Shui coughed lightly and took over the conversation, beginning to explain:

"Regarding the events of last night, I imagine you still have many doubts in your hearts.

Now that the situation has stabilized slightly, there are some circumstances we can inform you about."

His gaze swept over Qin Yan and Xiao Wangshu, and he immediately spoke:

"As for this person, Cang Hai, we have actually been suspicious of him for a long time.

We only refrained from moving against him for fear of alerting the enemy."

At this point, Lin Shui's gaze fell upon Xiao Wangshu.

"So, Modu University of Martial Arts organizing students to support the front line was actually a show we put on for the Sea Race and Cang Hai.

The purpose was to use this batch of New Students, especially you, Xiao Wangshu, as 'bait' to draw the snake out of its hole.

Looking at it now, the result is good."

"So that's how it is... The Deans already sensed that Cang Hai might be a traitor?"

After hearing this, Qin Yan had a sudden realization, and at the same time, he deeply admired the layout of the high-level officials.

But immediately following that, Qin Yan frowned.

"Then... what about me, Dean?"

"Cang Hai... or rather Black Whale, why did he call me there as well? I'm just an 'ordinary' student."

The military tent fell silent for a moment.

The gazes of Xiao Shan, Director Liu Mu, and Lin Shui all fell upon Qin Yan at the same time.

Those gazes were a bit complex, as if saying: Does this kid have some kind of misunderstanding about himself?

Ultimately, it was Lin Shui who cleared his throat and spoke the most "heart-piercing" truth in the calmest tone:

"Well... who told you to happen to be assigned to the same position as Wangshu, and your strength isn't weak either—you're also at Fourth Rank Peak."

He paused, seemingly weighing his words.

"For Cang Hai, capturing one more human genius like you was merely a side note, the more the merrier.

In any case... it didn't take much effort to catch you."

Qin Yan: "..."

He opened his mouth to say something but found himself speechless.

A thick, familiar sense of helplessness from "being dragged into things" welled up in his heart.

At the Hidden Dragon Assembly, he had inexplicably been drawn into the Black Demon Emperor's chess game.

This time was even better; he was peacefully guarding a position.

And yet, for reasons like "being assigned with Xiao Wangshu" and "having decent strength," he was casually listed as a capture target by an enemy Great Grandmaster...

Qin Yan felt a bit weary at heart.

"Cough, cough,"

Xiao Shan spoke up at the right time, changing the subject. "Qin Yan, calling you here this time, besides explaining the situation, is also to make adjustments to your subsequent arrangements."

"Aren't you already a Second-Grade Alchemist? Now that Black Whale has been executed, the pressure on the front line has drastically decreased, and there should be no large-scale warfare in the short term.

This batch of students who came to support doesn't need to all stay on the front line anymore."

Xiao Shan looked at Qin Yan, his tone becoming formal: "By the decision of the three of us, for the next period of time, you will be transferred away from the beachhead positions and report to the Logistics Department's Pill Refining Division.

There, your alchemy skills can provide more stable and direct support for the army."

For students of their own school, especially a genius like Qin Yan, they naturally hoped to give some preferential treatment.

Hearing this, Qin Yan's eyes lit up slightly.

This arrangement was exactly what he wanted!

Although the front line could quickly accumulate practical experience, it was also accompanied by extremely high risks.

Now that the Dragon Whale Clan had lost a Great Grandmaster, it seemed calm on the surface, but who could guarantee this wasn't the calm before the storm?

Or that the other side wouldn't adopt other, more insidious means of revenge?

Being able to stay in the relatively safe rear while also earning points was simply the most ideal state for this stage!

"The student obeys! I will certainly do my utmost to refine the necessary pills for the army!"

Qin Yan immediately stood up, cupped his fists, and responded with a sincere tone.

"Mhm, it's good that you have this heart."

Xiao Shan nodded, quite satisfied with Qin Yan's attitude. "Wangshu has other arrangements; you go ahead and report to the Logistics Department first."

As soon as he finished speaking, a soldier who had been waiting outside the military tent walked in and made a "please" gesture toward Qin Yan.

Qin Yan knew this was to take him to his new post.

He turned and nodded to the still-seated Xiao Wangshu as a farewell.

Xiao Wangshu also gave a slight nod in response, her cool eyes showing little emotion.

Immediately, Qin Yan followed that soldier out of the military tent.